MSW Book Recommendation 43 : 'Towards that Northern unknown.'

Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway and Denmark

(by Mary Wollstonecraft, 1759-1797) ; Orig. p. on 1796.

And ;

Travels in the North

(by Karel Capek, 1890-1938)

; p. 1939 (George Allen, London) ; 269 p.

[Recommendation(s) I / 2015]

This features a few travel-books. I happened, quite randomly, to find these for some 'joint stories' (...If not from timing or otherways too much in common, the both travellers journeyed for Northern Europes at their times). This is, maybe, little summarily said; Originally I considered this to provide some travel books from voyages of the North towards the (then) 'obscure' lands of tropical latitudes. But, turned it out, that almost simultaneuosly, I run on these few books about travels to the North. We've so far had only few books presented of this 'genre' here;...The travel-stories, -diaries, or -letters, fx.  Alongside, I guess, I'll have to admit, the first mentioned - Wollstonecraft's Letters - I selected mainly due noticing it been recently translated to my domestic language. 

; ...Shoewalter's somewhat classic book (from the 1970s), on British feminine fiction of the 1800s, mentions her only by few sentences, precisely: ”The works of Mary Wollstonecraft were not widely read by the Victorians due to the scandals surrounding her life.”...Although also seems written on it, concerning Mary's influence to novelists of that Victorian era, that her Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) and the theoretical base outlined on it, predated the latter emerged pro women's rights-movement by some centurys time. (ie Suffragettes.) (...As said of that acc. Shoewalter...on the 'Literature of their own' ; p.15 and 176.) Mary Wollstonecraft of course wrote number other text in addition to this, but most else is more in form of commentary, or perhaps social educative...Or smthg similar, etc. ; However, from prewords on the translation (of the Letters), I also read that them around the time were most widely circulated, and actually most fancied from her writings (...like often usual.) ; ..That not too surprising, as the husband (William Godwin 1765-1836, The 'radical philosopher', she married soon after her journey and w. her the parent to their common daughter, Mary Shelley.) postward Mary's (Wollstonecraft) untimely death, couple years later, decided to publish the discussed travel-letters. And, as well, the reading public of the 'common' women, from men also, likely was on increase then, perhaps slowly but steadily.

Without going too lenghty on descriptions about the letters, or from Wollstonecraft's life, we can notice them written on her travels at North European countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway), during the summer from 1795. There were about twenty or more letters she wrote, during the journey. Reason to her going was seeking the recognition for her earlier born child from its father(...Born outside 'marital bond', ie her journey was rather unusual itself, since she was traveling with her child and without any male acquintances. However, perhaps more usual, that didn't bring the wished result. Except, of course, these letters we now have for to interest ourselves on and about...)

Mary's observations during her travel are rather variable, but often very enchanting reading, as lots on them also reflects her own personal inner life. Sometimes she has the more usual tone of a moral commentary – the 'tone' of the time, perhaps quite typical, and (maybe) araised of an upper-class conviction that origin of all amoral and vice, drunkness and decay (ie, etc.,) so observable at the everyday life and customs, lay on the 'uncultivated' virtue of the (so called) common people and corruption of the society. She then also finds interest on their diet and the peoples general character, ie fx how the 'less admirable' characteristics of any particular race might appear traceable for the unhealthiness of the usual food, the climate, et sim reasons – like also was a view shared by many on her times, probably. ...But even on that, her 'mood' is rather rarely judging and never abusive, merely she seems acc her writing on the letters to reflect a certain curiosity she finds on 'primitiviness' of these northern inhabitants (; 'The folk', peasants, merchants, fishers, sailors, etc...) ; ...At least one achieves this impression if comparing her 'tone' to that of some from her renown contemporary travel-writers, like fx Coleridge (S., 1772-1834) ; Thackeray (W., 1821-1863) ; ...or, fx Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832, - that humane spirit, and 'cultural giant' of the romantic era, who yet wasn't/couldn't be much described to any favorer of the democratisation (on society, if viewed by any modern criteria.) In short, there's not much anything similarly aristocratic on Mary's observations. Also she pays fx much attention to the general inequality, and the political-situation on countries she passes by, describes nationalities and (their) recent history. Also fx laws and customs, ao, are of her interest, alongside the landscape, towns and rural regions, fields...

; Mary's views much concern the important matter from education, which she – much in the light of her times rationalist ideal – finds crucial for any advancement of cultures of its backward level. (Illiteracy, fx, was still to her times rather common.) She also opinions that the advance(s) of humanity should best take place within the improvement of peoples surrounding environments – Ie, practically she finds for the very opposites, the 'evil' (or, static) in an 'untamed' (Nature), and the goods brought by civilization (….it's advancement, education, the Culture.) - rather commonplace views, actually. ...While all that she might have viewed as the advances (for humanity and virtue), we may now merely think to the questionable blessings, even destructive by many ways, at her times the said division was probably more apparent and straightforward: Ie the Nature still was truly wild and the civilization – or so was believed – was seen for represent an actual progress of the prevailed 'archaic state' ; ...Much on that same basis she arguments fx against that ridicule 'savage-ideal' presented by Rousseau (who's views then were commonly lot discussed amongst the 'elites', or upper-middle class.)

But, here now a short excerpt on Mary's (Wollstonecraft) views on those referred aspect(s):

”As the farmers cut away the wood they clear the ground. Every year, therefore, the country is becoming fitter to support the inhabitants. …The destruction, or gradual reduction, of their forests will probably ameliorate the climate, and their manners will naturally improve in the same ratio as industry requires ingenuity. It is very fortunate that men are a long time but just above the brute creation, or the greater part of the earth would never have been rendered habitable, because it is the patient labour of men, who are only seeking for a subsistence, which produces whatever embellishes existence, affording leisure for the cultivation of the arts and sciences that lift man so far above his first state. I never, my friend, thought so deeply of the advantages obtained by human industry as since I have been in Norway. The world requires, I see, the hand of man to perfect it, and as this task naturally unfolds the faculties he exercises, it is physically impossible that he should have remained in Rousseau's golden age of stupidity. And, considering the question of human happiness, where, oh where does it reside? Has it taken up its abode with unconscious ignorance or with the high-wrought mind? Is it the offspring of thoughtless animal spirits or the dye of fancy continually flitting round the expected pleasure?

[...] I am delighted with the romantic views I daily contemplate, animated by the purest air; and I am interested by the simplicity of manners which reigns around me. Still nothing so soon wearies out the feelings as unmarked simplicity. I am therefore half convinced that I could not live very comfortably exiled from the countries where mankind are so much further advanced in knowledge, imperfect as it is, and unsatisfactory to the thinking mind. ”  (; On the Letter IX)

; However, the few paragraphs (above) don't express all from her 'scale' of thought, or opinions, nearly. Fx, the Scandinavian forests, its limitless and 'untamed' wildwood (...at her time while that not nearly so anymore...), don't leave the traveller unimpressed. Forest(s), sort of, seem from reflect for her own (intense and anxied) emotions during the journey, and even serve of to calm and relieve those. It's actually very enchanting to read her admiring words devoted on the same wilderness(es) she finds as some 'obstacles' to the civilization's advance. In short, she's seems from notice – or, better said, to sense – not only the external on those boreal forests she passes by and little walks on (...the mosses, the pure air, the beasts, the majestetic trees), but also the internal. (...Meaning w. that) the goblin's hoblins – in a positive sense, not for as depressing or threatening – sound of cascades/the flow of brooks, and the 'hallucinations', ...to loan a little, of elsewhere, 'wood demons, tree spirits and fertility goddesses' – Although she, of course not sees anything like that, or at least not any mention in the text. 

; ...Reading the letters now, actually, one increasingly gets the impression that within the journey Mary becomes ever more obsessed by tensions and impressions araising of her romantic mood, experienced at those Northern forests, so 'pure' and free of a 'humanly vice'. As that seems to appear her - But it's not her sole topic of interest on these travel-notes, and not so much is devoted on forests than I've presented at this. (Neither in the similar vein.)

; So she also expresses smthg similar when writing about (her) emerged longing from to continue journeying towards far North, for more 'uncivilized' but yet also more 'honorable regions'. That neither very surprising, I suppose, actually seems it from originate of her own very intense curiosity on life, her own 'quest' from a better humanity. ...For she dreams (but shortly) about the imagined longgone 'early days', at the dawn of man, ie; ”...The description I received of them carried me back to the fables of the golden age: independence and virtue; affluence without vice; cultivation of mind …

My imagination hurries me forward to seek an asylum in such a retreat from all the disappointments I am threatened with; but reason drags me back, whispering that the world is still the world, and man the same compound of weakness and folly, who must occasionally excite love and disgust, admiration and contempt.” (; on the letter XIV) ;....Actually that (somewhat) resembles the very Rousseauist nature-idealisation as such – the same she so strongly rejects elsewhere (Even if strickly she doesn't make an actual reference to it.). But admittable, within her varying 'mood', she always also seems retain amount of realism, or that indispendable 'common sense'. Actually, in the light of this, not surprises perhaps the daughter, Mary Shelley, later having 'rebelled' against some simplification on these Mary's views described - via writing the book about that Rousseuist 'wild monster', ie, the Frankenstein-novel.

; ...So, lady travelled, observed those Northern regions and the peoples, then returned. (She makes a mention on some place from understanding that her journey would've been quite different, if it been carried during the winter season.) ...Reader is also left quite amazed of the strenght of her descriptions, particularly since we read the text knowing that only couple years after she had passed away.

Shorerocks on Atlantic/Arctic sea (Capeks drawings)

; Of the Capek's book– the other North European traveller of this post – there'd be probably equally much to remark...if I had the time and effort. Yet, I guess, no necessity here for too many paragraphs...As I've also not anyhow extensively viewed biographies of either (of these author's). Suffices to say that travellin' some one and half the century later, Capek [...spelling is actually w. the small 'arrow', or convex over C] journeys more w. the railways and ships, and generally – perhaps - a bit more in a manner we might find more usual for any regular 'tourists'. He also goes farther North than Mary, all the way until Nordkapp. ...But, also Capek writes very skillfully, of his observations a keen reader finds lot to learn. Like Mary, he also traveled throughpast Denmark, Sweden, Norway. And then there's fx that northern light they both find for as a source of a great amazement and wonder...

; Capek, famous Czech author during his days, also seems been renown of his anti-fascism on the 1930s, and as well was rather active at politics. His travel-book seems been published at 1939 on England – so, I just suppose, that papers were perhaps sent by him for publication shortward priorly, because of circumstances (Hitler on y. 1938 attaching the Sudetenlands, ao, for Germany - of details view the Wikip-entry on the Munich conference.). Likely Capek lost his life soon after it, as the nazi-troops bit later had invaded the rest from the country.

; However Capek, perhaps, most renown from have invented the word robot. ...It's said to originate from his 1920 play R.U.R. ('Rossumovi universaini roboti', the word itself 'translated' from czech word 'robota', ie (to) work. Briefly put (no lenghtier descriptions here), without Capek there wouldn't possible fx been any U.S.Robotics precisely. (Instead, perhaps it would've named to smtgh 'Especial automated mechanized artificats', no robots whatsoever by any term.) Even that the word now has most universal uses being understandable on most languages. (; Also reminded me this that past kids animation film on robots – by the WB, or some other filmfactory, p. around early from 2000s, and among the fewsome recent kids cartoons that even has a good plot. Not surprising, if it actually must've been based on that play by Capek.)

Finally, short excerpt of Capek's observations of the geologic formation of Sweden, it's 'rocky strata', the solid bedrock...I think it quite well descriptive and well show from that 'brevity' on his words and writing. Of course, he's also equally impressed by the 'untamed' Northern boreal forestscape than is Wollstonecraft at her days...Unfortunately we can't quote to this more examples of Capek's journey-description, so the notes below shall suffice: 

  ”...this is Sweden, the land of granite. Dark boulders and green pastures, dark woods, and silver birches, red cottages with white edges, black and white cows, black crows, black and white magpies, silvery strecthes of water, black junipers, and white spiraeas; black and white, red and green. And always more of those boulders; here scattered in the sea, here they pass into the wood, over they sprout up from the earth in the centre of a meadow, or a field of rye; erratic boulders as big as a house, rubble and ground granite sheets; all stones, but no grown rocks; only rolled on, piled up, heaps of boulders, my friend, but it's all Moraine as it stands in the book; an ice sheet formed this land; only over there, on the Danish side, has it left a bit of a space for the alluvium to show what it can do. But that is merely Cambrian and Silurian; While this, old chap, this is the oldest rock; where would chalk be here, or sandstone! Do you remember how at home, in the woods of your childhood, you used to find erratic boulders of granite? There too, they say, they were brought by an ice sheet. So then we ought to be as if at home here in the Primary rocks.

[…] And so that's why I shall say the important and greatest word: woods. They say that six-tenths of Sweden are covered with forests, but I think that there are still more of those woods; and these are the kind of woods which most probably grew in the first fifty or hundred years when Nature was only finding out how the northern growth is made; such an, should I say, abundance is here, of exuberant and original ideas. Not that there might grow, God knows what; without exception it is spruce and fir, pine birch, and dark alder, not to speak of juniper; always, and endlessly, the same, but you don't grow weary of it, my friend, and you can see the end of that abundance of vegetation. ...a Nordic jungle, a fairy-tale wood, a wood of gnomes and giants, a real Germanic wood, and a huge wood factory; elks, all chin and nose, with splayed antlers, are still running about here, and I shouldn't wonder very much if a wolf wouldn't also be here, Red Riding Hood, the unicorn, and other wild beasts.”, ...etc. (; p. 39-40, 44-6)

'Lakeside-view' (Capeks drawings)

; ...However, at least as impressive than his remarks are Capek's drawings, ...Likely made originally w. the pencil (or ink, or tusch, whatever the method). These cover most of regions on his route, containing the fields and the hay-stacks, farms, and the forest ; fjords and mountains ; occasionally the people, and likewise depicting also their dwellings. (So beside text, and below I placed few selections) ; ...It's actually because of his pictures I favored the book, for presently – in the age of the internets, on-line connections, travel-blogs, etc, etc. - just this kind of books aren't made anymore. It's now, more or less, photos and text...less smtgh where text and drawings flow so uniform, creating smthg 'artful'. ...And esp. because of these drawings story has certain element of timedness, uncomparable. 

 

Very enjoyable old travel-books, both of the recommended. (; G.U.J.)

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'Clouded mountainheads' (Capeks drawings) 

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(; ...The riders? ...this no part on that series...)


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